Okay, I know it's been a few days but I finally have a new chapter for everyone. So anyways, hope you all enjoy it!
Tamahome headed for the door but was stopped in his tracks by a faint voice.
"Tamahome…I….I'm coming with you."
Tamahome turned to see Miaka sitting up in bed, the strain obvious in her face.
"Miaka you have to get your rest. I'll be fine."
"I know but…the sooner we get the cure the better right? If I go…I'll be healed in less time."
Tamahome looked to his other companions for help. She really was not in any condition to travel, but she had a point. It would take time to get back with the cure. Time they may not have. Miaka was already weak as it was, if they took too long…Tamahome shook his head, unable to finish the thought. He really did not want to think about what would happen if they were too late.
"Miaka…are you sure you should be going?" Nuriko asked.
He really did not want to see her suffer. Besides, what if something happened to them on the road? Miaka would be a sitting duck.
"I have to…I'll be alright…honest."
There was no way she was going to give up on this. The determination was clearly written on her face. They could argue til the break of dawn and she would still insist that they take her with them.
"Fine. But you have to agree to one of us carrying you if it gets too rough. You need all the strength you have."
"Fine."
"It's settled then. We leave tonight."
Tasuki looked about the room again at his new companions and couldn't help but smile. Who knows, maybe stickin' with these guys would prove interesting. Besides, he owed the Priestess one.
They traveled down the steep mountain path in single file. Tasuki took the lead since he knew the paths best and even now he was leading them down a short cut. Unfortunately the quickest path down was also the most dangerous. Tamahome was second, followed by Hotohori, then Miaka and Nuriko bringing up the rear.
Miaka leaned heavily on the wooden staff the Koujii had lent her. She was grateful for it. It made it easier for her to walk down the steep path. The only problem was staying conscious and remembering how to breathe.
There were times when they were making their way down the mountain that it got hard to stay on her feet.
"Come on Yuki. Stay on your feet. You don't want to cause them anymore trouble." Miaka thought to herself.
Unfortunately the pep talks weren't working. Not completely anyway.
"You alright Miaka?"
"Yeah…I'm fine why?"
"No reason."
Miaka looked up into Nuriko's eyes, trying to read them, to get some sign for he'd really asked and then she saw it. Worry. A deep worry laced with fear running in those beautiful eyes. He was genuinely worried about her.
"We're almost there," Tasuki called when they'd come to the end of their path, "The village is only a few miles ahead, but be on guard, there are worse things lurking in the woods than bandits."
"What the heck does that mean?"
"Pray you don't find out," Tasuki replied over his shoulder.
They entered a dark pathway surrounded by woods. It was the only way directly into the village from the mountain. Unfortunately there were things lurking in these woods that would make even the most courageous of men turn cowardly. Some people claimed to have seen a werewolf in these woods. But that was impossible. Everyone knows that werewolves don't exist, right?
Just then a howl cut through the air, raising the hairs on the back of everyone's necks.
"I've got a bad feeling about this place," Nuriko said.
"That makes two of us."
They walked on, their pace just a little bit faster than before. Scared, them? But unknown to them was that they were being watched by two figures shrouded in darkness.
"Keep them distracted. I'll get the girl."
"Got it."
The two figures leapt out of the darkness, catching the Suzaku warriors off guard.
"Whatever you do, protect Miaka!" Tamahome shouted.
The warriors formed a circle around their priestess. No one would get through to her. Not while they lived.
The two figures landed in perfect synchronicity before the Suzaku Warriors.
"Who the hell are you?"
"I am Amiboshi."
"And I am Suboshi."
The two spoke together as if they knew what the other was thinking.
"We've come for the Priestess."
The two threw their cloaks to the ground revealing themselves to be twins. The two boys had to be at least Miaka's age or somewhere there abouts. They were both 5'9" with short, sandy blonde hair and blue eyes.
"If you think we're gonna let you take Miaka you got another thing coming."
"Suboshi."
"Right."
The two boys moved in a blur of speed attacking together. Sweet, music filled the air, and oddly enough it was that very music that seemed to be pulling their minds apart.
Suddenly a loud howl filled the air, and someone screamed.
